It's difficult to describe the music of GOSPROM because it incorporates such a rich and varied range of influences, but if you try to imagine elements of trip hop (particularly Portishead), folk and jazz, along with some scratching, then you're getting close.

GOSPROM live in Kharkov, which is the second largest city in Ukraine. Kharkov itself is famed for its industrial prowess (tank factories and the like) and the name of the band comes from the mightily impressive modernist building of the same name (Wiki it to see what I mean)!

Comprising Marianna Dyakova (vocals), Dmitrij Sysoev - (DJ, programming), Constantine Otkidach (guitar), Andrian Fedoseev (clarinet) and Oleg Shpakowsky (bass), GOSPROM have been ripping up the local live music scene with some belting sets that showcase their own very idiosyncratic brand of music (search YouTube for some videos of them).

Sadly I have no knowledge of the Russian language whatsoever, but Dimitrij reliably informs me that their lyrics are the work of some hugely talented writers like Vladimir Mayakovsky, Michael Svetlov, cult Kharkov writer Sergey Zhadan, poet Constantine Johnson and a host of other young Ukrainian poets.

The GOSPROM project is also a collective that includes designers, photographers, architects and dancers. And I can't write these notes without mentioning the superb artwork, which was designed by Denise Davydov.

Debut mini album Broadway is a perfect illustration of this eccentric hybrid of musical directions and it's something that you're going to download and love. A friendly note of caution - GOSPROM is definitely habit-forming and you may notice yourself listening to it over and over again, mostly with a big fat smile on your face.

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